[Oh, but if she's familiar enough with an admiral to refer to him so casually... David's not going to get his hopes too high for keeping that ship in his possession.]

Whatever he chooses will be his prerogative, Miss Summers. I assure you I will bear no ill will, whatever the outcome.

[None, at least, that he'll give voice to. What good would it do, after all? An admiral's word was law, and to complain would be an open show of disrespect as well as unproductive.

No. Should that happen, the best course would be to accept and bide.]